Multiple Scattering: Dispersion, Temperature Dependence, and Annular Pistons

Abstract

We review various applications of the multiple scattering approach to the calculation of Casimir forces between separate bodies, including dispersion, wedge geometries, annular pistons, and temperature dependence. Exact results are obtained in many cases. Quantum Vacuum EnergyQuantum vacuum energies, or Casimir energies, are important at all energy scales, from subnuclear to cosmological. Applications are starting to appear in nanotechnology. Furthermore it is most likely that the source of dark energy that makes up some 70% of the energy budget of the universe is quantum vacuum fluctuations. In particular, the 7-year WMAP data is completely consistent with the existence of a cosmological constant [1], w ≡ p ρ